What is an Energy Audit?

Charles Gould

Aluel Go

A Farm Energy Audit is an essential management tool in

developing a comprehensive energy plan for your farm or rural

business.

It can pinpoint areas for reducing energy costs and energy use.

It helps prioritize implementation projects based on energy

efficiency improvements, payback period, capital outlay or

implementation duration and complexity.

A farm energy audit can also improve operational efficiency as

well as identify potential areas for renewable energy application.

Certified Farm Energy Audits are required for participation is

State, Federal and Utility energy efficiency programs.

What is a Farm Energy Audit?

Energy Audits

1. Farm/Rural Business Energy Audit (PE, CEM, State Certified

Auditor)

ANSI/ASABE S612 (July 2009) – level I & level II Type 1 Audit: An evaluation and report of farm enterprise energy use that considers, at a minimum, the major activities. A Type 1 Audit is not required to address individual components.

Type 2 Audit A more detailed evaluation and report of farm enterprise energy use that considers all major activities and components, as applicable.

2. Industrial/Commercial Energy Audit (PE, CEM)

Industry Standards – level I, II, III

3. Home/Residential Energy Audit

BPI, RESNET, Homeworks w/ Energy Star

Farm Energy Audit Standards Not All Audits Are The Same

Expectations On Our Energy Audits An energy audit is an important management tool. However,

implementation of the recommended ECM’s to save energy or

increase productivity is the ultimate goal.

It integrates mgmt.'s preferences and uses a “whole enterprise”

approach in developing ECM’s or operational adjustments.

An energy audit must be conducted “with eyes on-site” by the

certified auditor. Remote auditing via surveys/questionnaires or

third party representatives (despite training) does not adequately

capture the management and operational/situational uniqueness inherent in all enterprises.

We strive to develop energy audits that attain type 2 level standards

based on the ASABE and ANSI S612 standards for farm energy audits.

Integration of Federal, State and Utility funding options. Auditor and farmer feedback.

Description

Existing

Usage

(kWh)

Existing

Energy

Costs

Energy

Savings

(MMBtu)

Energy

Savings

(kWh)

Annual

Cost

Savings

Costs to

Implemen

t

Paybac

k

(Years)

Comment

s

Lighting

Heifer Hoop Barn 1,734 $250 4.7 1,388 $200 $300 1.5 With

timers

Exterior Lights 4,335 $624 8.9 2605 $375 $750 2.0 5 lights

E-W Free Stall

Barn 11,869 $1,711 20.2 5930 $854 $180 <1

Long-day

lighting

N-S Free Stall

Barn 7,919 $1,140 13.5 3959 $570 $120 <1

Long-day

lighting

Lighting Subtotal 25,857 $3,725 47.4 13,888 $1,999 $1,350 1.5

Milk Rec Pump -

VSD 28.7 8,400 $1,210 $5,300 4.4

Block Heater 1,080 $156 2.6 810 $117 $20 <1

Pre-cooler Water

Reuse $1,000 < 1

EQIP

$5,872

Total 26,937 $3,881 78.8 23,098 $3,326 $7,670 2.3

Energy Conservation Measures - sample

Certified Farm

Energy Audit

Confidential Certified

Energy Audit Report

Certified Energy Audits (ASABE S612)

Professional Engineer (PE)

Certified Energy Manager (CEM)

State Certified Farm Energy Auditor

USDA-NRCS Technical Service Provider

Alternative Energy Anaerobic digesters Biomass Geothermal Wind CHP

Records Needed:

□ Utility bills for three years prior to audit.

□ Milk production for three years.

□ Age and technical information of equipment.

Farm Energy Audit Process

Set priorities &

implement suggestions

Not all audits are the same.

Selling Points For A Type 2 Farm or Rural Business Energy Audit

Selling Point #1:

Reduced Energy Costs/Increased Profits

Energy Savings across Enterprises

Type          

TOTAL #

of Audits

Energy

Used

(kWh/yr)

Energy

Saved

(kWh/yr)

%

Savings

Cash

Savings 

($/yr)

Implementation

Cost ($)

Payback

(years)

Greenhouse 23 52,468,438 20,360,909 39% $766,843 $2,876,720 3.8

Grain Dryers 29 19,584,310 6,943,806 35% $454,958 $3,620,927 8.0

Dairy Farms 106 16,757,061 8,155,051 49% $871,635 $2,314,633 2.7

Rural Business 24 33,038,866 12,530,249 38% $642,638 $1,389,679 2.2

Food Processing and Market 21 3,535,414 1,282,559 36% $175,551 $852,108 4.9

Hogs 3 696,536 161,135 23% $14,235 $48,623 3.4

Poultry 1 331,149 725,641 219% $29,826 $119,979 4.0

Beef 3 57,079 28,187 49% $3,782 $14,357 3.8

Crops 6 305,351 125,097 41% $42,850 $93,319 2.2

Irrigation 9 2,327,465 1,708,715 73% $130,558 $504,954 3.9

TOTAL AUDITS 225 129,101,669 52,021,350 40% $3,132,877 $11,835,299 3.8

Energy Savings in MI Dairy

Energy audits on 106 Michigan dairy farms from 2010 to 2013 shows a potential energy efficiency savings of 49% of over $8,223 annually. Additional saving from reduced fossil fuel use can be further achieved with the incorporation of alternative energy options.

23%

14%

17%

16%

10%

13%

3% 1%

1%

1%

0% 0%

0% 0%

0% 0%

Dairy Farm Energy Savings

Subtotal Lighting

Subtotal Milk Cooling

Subtotal Water Heating

Subtotal Manure Handling

Subtotal Ventilation

Subtotal Vacuum Pump

Subtotal Space Heating

Subtotal Grain Drying

Subtotal Feeding Equipment

Subtotal Timers

Subtotal Vending

Subtotal Refrigeration

Subtotal Electric Motors

Subtotal LDL

Subtotal Cooling

Subtotal Electric Service

Selling Point #2:

Operations Solutions by auditors who understand the

farm operations.

Written- Pole Motors

60 HP Written-Pole Motor

Three Phase Generator

Pump

Ventilation Vent Caps

Overheating motor on ventilation fan

The motor on the left ventilation fan was leaking oil and operating at 19.5°F greater than normal.

Selling Point #3:

Financially Options to Ease the Burden

$$$

USDA-REAP

USDA-NRCS

DOE/State Energy Agencies

University Programs/Extension

Utility Companies and Electric Coops

State Agencies

Efficiency/Renewable Energy Funding

Selling Point #4:

Reduce the Operation’s Carbon Foot Print and Be

Environmentally Responsive

Contact Us:

Truman C. Surbrook Aluel S. Go Biosystems & Agric’l Engineering Biosystems & Agric’l Engineering Michigan State University Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 48824-1323 East Lansing, MI 48824-1323 (517) 353-3232 (517) 353-0643

surbrook@egr.msu.edu goaluel@egr.msu.edu

http://farmenergy.canr.msu.edu